DAS Offers Text-To-Speech EAS Solution

Digital Alert Systems and Monroe Electronics have published an application note explaining how to bring their DASDEC and R189 One-Net integrated EAS/CAP encoder systems into quick compliance with new FCC rules governing the Emergency Alert System. This software fix is the first public solution for this new requirement.

Starting April 23, the FCC will prohibit the use of text-to-speech on EAS devices, requiring stations to disable that capability on their equipment. To ensure accurate content of the audio portion of EAS messages, the new FCC requirement forbids EAS participants from generating those messages using existing TTS software.

Stations currently using this feature can find instructions for disabling it on the www.digitalalertsystems.com and www.monroe-electronics.com websites. All DASDEC and Monroe R189 One-Net users are advised to check their version number and, if needed, follow the very simple TSS disabling instructions provided.

Separately, Digital Alert Systems also announced a partnership with television automation company Florical Systems to provide more structured and seamless integration of Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages into the broadcast workflow. The two companies have integrated the DASDEC emergency messaging platform with the Florical automation system to simplify and improve EAS message handling and playout.

“Previously a human operator had to manually trigger each emergency alert message to ensure placement over the right content,” says Digital Alert Systems Business Development Manager Bill Robertson. “The Florical system communicates directly with DASDEC to confirm electronic ‘permission’ for each alert  —  and then it logs each event automatically.”

The combined system can handle alerts for up to five channels at a time. It’s also compatible with a range of graphic display devices from inexpensive crawl generators to more sophisticated layered graphics systems.

Florical’s Acuitas station-in-a-box solution acquires EAS data from the DASDEC system and inserts reconcilable events directly into the AirBoss schedule. The EAS-Net communications protocol affords a network-centric approach to handling EAS messages.

Broadcasters working with Florical automation systems can easily add the DASDEC EAS product to their workflows, and existing DASDEC users who are considering automation can employ Florical systems with the knowledge that the two products interoperate smoothly.

Also at this week’s NAB Show, Digital Alert Systems announced the release of the NoNOISE-PS, a professional-grade, no-noise power supply option for the company’s DASDEC-I and DASDEC-II emergency alert systems. Ideal for DASDEC units housed and accessed in quiet environments, such as broadcast studios. By designing out the typical noisy cooling fan, the $200 NoNOISE-PS delivers steady power without the need for bulky and expensive enclosures.

For all that’s going on at NAB 2012, click here.